PatchWarden vs Bernstein
A side-by-side look at the PatchWarden and Bernstein MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose PatchWarden for coding agents work as a local process; choose Bernstein for coding agents as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose PatchWarden when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Coding Agents domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
CONTROL_PLANE_API_KEY, PATCHWARDEN_OWNER_TOKEN. - You want tools like
save_plan, get_plan, health_check.
Choose Bernstein when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Coding Agents domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Coding Agents | Coding Agents |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 61/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | CONTROL_PLANE_API_KEYPATCHWARDEN_OWNER_TOKEN | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 6 | 1,299 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 30 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View PatchWarden | View Bernstein |
Tools & capabilities
PatchWarden tools 30
save_planSave an execution plan — ChatGPT writes the plan, PatchWarden stores it for local agent execution. Supports plan_ref to load a plan file already placed inside .patchwarden/plans.get_planRead a saved plan by its plan_id.health_checkCheck MCP catalog consistency, watcher freshness/supervisor state, workspace readiness, and configured agents. Use detail=self_diagnostic for expanded read-only evidence.list_agentsList configured local agents and check whether each executable currently exists. This does not start an agent or contact its model provider.create_taskCreate a repo-scoped task from exactly one source. For ChatGPT, prefer the guarded inspect_only, feature_small, or fix_tests template when it fits. A stale watcher preserves the task but returns execution_blocked and directs the client to health_check; otherwise call wait_for_task until terminal. Use execution_mode=assess_only to pre-assess risk and get an assessment_id without creating a task; then invoke the returned next_tool_call using only execution_mode=execute and the full assessment_id.get_task_statusCheck task status, execution phase, watcher health, pending reason, current command, timeout, and change evidence.get_resultRead result.md, or return structured availability and watcher evidence while the task is not terminal.get_result_jsonRead the structured result.json for deterministic task acceptance.get_diffRead task diff evidence, or return structured availability and watcher evidence while it is not ready.get_test_logRead test.log, or return structured availability and watcher evidence while it is not ready.list_workspaceList files and directories within the workspace (sensitive files excluded).read_workspace_fileRead a file within the workspace. Sensitive files (secrets, keys, tokens) are blocked. In Direct mode (with session_id), reads are scoped to the session's repo_path and return sha256.- +18 more on the listing page
Bernstein tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
PatchWarden
{
"mcpServers": {
"jiezeng2004-design-patchwarden": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"patchwarden@0.6.1"
],
"env": {
"CONTROL_PLANE_API_KEY": "YOUR_CONTROL_PLANE_API_KEY_HERE",
"PATCHWARDEN_OWNER_TOKEN": "YOUR_PATCHWARDEN_OWNER_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Bernstein
{
"mcpServers": {
"sipyourdrink-ltd-bernstein": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"bernstein"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
PatchWarden is categorized under Coding Agents and uses a local stdio subprocess. Bernstein belongs to Coding Agents and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick PatchWarden for coding agents work and Bernstein for coding agents.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
PatchWarden has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Bernstein is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add jiezeng2004-design-patchwarden and sipyourdrink-ltd-bernstein as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, PatchWarden has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 6 GitHub stars. Bernstein has 61/100 (Good) with 4 views, 0 installs and 1,299 GitHub stars.